Pestsäule, Baroque memorial column at Graben, Austria.
The Pestsäule is a marble column that rises from the ground through multiple levels of carved figures, angels, and religious symbols up to a gilded crown. The structure shows different scenes stacked vertically, with detailed sculptural work covering the lower portions and the top tapering upward.
The emperor commissioned this monument in 1683 to mark the end of a plague outbreak that had struck the city a few years before. Construction continued for roughly a decade before completion.
The column displays figures and symbols that reflect the beliefs of its time, showing how people expressed faith through art and sculpture. Walking around it, you notice how carefully crafted each detail is, from the flowing robes to the expressive faces.
The monument sits in the middle of Graben street and works well as a meeting point or reference when exploring central Vienna. The area around the column is easily accessible from all sides, making it simple to walk around and view it from different angles.
The monument includes a striking sculpture of an older woman representing the plague being pushed downward by an angel. This scene is an unusual and forceful way of showing how people of that time imagined their deliverance from disease.
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